Matter of Shufelt v Annucci |
2016 NY Slip Op 03051 [138 AD3d 1336] |
April 21, 2016 |
Appellate Division, Third Department |
Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431. |
In the Matter of Ryan Shufelt, Petitioner, v Anthony J. Annucci, as Acting Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision, Respondent. |
Ryan Shufelt, Malone, petitioner pro se.
Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Marcus J. Mastracco of counsel), for respondent.
Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 (transferred to this Court by order of the Supreme Court, entered in Franklin County) to review a determination of respondent finding petitioner guilty of violating certain prison disciplinary rules.
Petitioner was charged in two misbehavior reports with violating prison disciplinary
rules for his conduct on the evening of October 15, 2014. During a pat frisk by a
correction officer, two flat, sharpened metal objects, each measuring 10
We confirm. Given that petitioner pleaded guilty to the charges contained in the second misbehavior report, he forfeited any challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the determination of guilt of those charges (see Matter of Kim v Annucci, 128 AD3d 1196, 1197[*2][2015]).[FN*] With regard to petitioner's challenge to the determination on the first misbehavior report, we find that the testimony of its author who found the weapons, as well as the documentary evidence, photographs of the weapons and the misbehavior report, provide substantial evidence to support the charges (see Matter of Diaz v Prack, 127 AD3d 1489, 1490 [2015]; Matter of Smart v Fischer, 122 AD3d 1023, 1023 [2014], lv denied 24 NY3d 916 [2015]). Petitioner's claim that he was unaware that the weapons were in his boots presented a credibility issue for the Hearing Officer to resolve (see Matter of Perkins v Annucci, 129 AD3d 1421, 1421 [2015]). Further, while petitioner preserved his claim that the Hearing Officer failed to independently assess the credibility of the confidential information that prompted the pat frisk by raising it on his administrative appeal (see Matter of Rivera v Commissioner of DOCS, 122 AD3d 1052, 1053 [2014]), it lacks merit. The determination of guilt was based upon evidence establishing that petitioner had secreted weapons in his boots, rather that on the confidential information that led to the pat frisk, obviating the need to assess the confidential information (see Matter of Douglas v Fischer, 126 AD3d 1244, 1245 [2015], lv denied 26 NY3d 904 [2015]; Matter of Horne v Fischer, 98 AD3d 788, 789 [2012]). Petitioner's remaining claims are either unpreserved or lack merit.
Lahtinen, J.P., Garry, Devine and Clark, JJ., concur. Adjudged that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.